Method of recovering energy

ABSTRACT

Described is an apparatus and method for recovery of energy and by-products from automobile and truck tires. The tires are heated in an oxygen poor environment, and the off gases are condensed to recover a liquid oil product and compressible natural gas. The tires are reduces to ash and steel, both of which can be feed streams for other processes. The apparatus includes a condenser with cooled plates, and oil recovery structures.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional application and claims the prioritydate of the utility application entitled SYSTEM FOR RECOVERING OIL FROMUSED AUTOMOBILE TIRES filed by David Brent Thompson on Jun. 12, 2007,with Ser. No. 11/761,974, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,271 which claims thepriority date of the provisional application entitled SYSTEM, METHOD ANDPROCESS OF RECOVERING OIL FROM USED AUTOMOBILE TIRES filed by DavidBrent Thompson on Jun. 12, 2006 with application Ser. No. 60/804,508.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, system andmethod for recovering energy from automobile tires, and moreparticularly to an apparatus, system, and method for using pyrolysis forrecovering oil and gas from automobile tires, leaving only carbon ashand steel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are millions of cars and trucks on the roads, with millions ofvehicles added each year. This results in tens of millions of tiresbeing used and discarded each year. Disposing of these tires has provenproblematic. With space in landfills becoming more and more scarce, itis not economical to dispose of automobile tires in landfills. Dumpingtires in the ocean has not proven to be ecologically sound as the sealife does not adhere to the tire surfaces and ocean currents can causethe tires to be dispersed. When tires come into contact with naturalecosystems, they harm the ecosystems by physically breaking off coraland covering ocean invertebrates. They also release a steady stream ofcontaminants into the water which kills surrounding ocean life.

Burning tires also involves huge environmental issues because theburning tires release a huge amount of particulate matter, smoke andunburned hydrocarbons into the air.

Various methods have been devised to deal with used tires, includinglarge machines which break them into small pieces. The presence of steelwithin the tires makes chipping them into small pieces difficult, andprevious attempts to recover oil or energy from the tires has notresulted in a clean and efficient system.

What is needed is a tire processing system which recovers oil and gasfrom the tires and makes those available as energy sources or asfeedstock to other manufacturing processes. A further goal is to reducethe bulk of the tires so that only ash and steel remain from theoriginal tires, with both of these being able to be fed into anindustrial process as a feedstock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are accomplished by the apparatus, method andprocess of the invention. The present invention is an apparatus, methodand process for processing whole automobiles tires into gaseous, liquid,and solid products streams in a pyrolysis process with no waste productsbeing left.

One example embodiment of the present invention is an energy recoverysystem which uses automobile tires for fuel. The system uses a heatingprocess for vaporizing all but the steel and carbon of the tire, andproducing an oil and natural gas product. The method uses a vessel inwhich tires are heated. They are heated to 500-1,300° F. in a low oxygenenvironment and the components in the tires are heated to the point ofvaporization. The vapors are sent to another vessel where condensationtakes place and an oil product containing naphthas, diesel fuel,gasoline and other hydrocarbon chemicals are condensed from the tirevapors. The remaining gaseous tire vapors constitute natural gas that iscollected and stored. Both the oil product and the natural gas productare useable as a feedstock or as a fuel, and the carbon and steel leftfrom the tires are also useable feedstocks for other processes.

The method and process will be described first and starts with the stepof providing the supply of automobile tires. This is not difficult toattain, because the supply of automobile or vehicle tires is very largeat present.

The next step is to align a quantity of the tires so that the tires arestacked sidewall to sidewall in a generally cylindrical shape, with thecentral opening of each tire adjacent to the central opening of adjacenttires, so that the cylinder has an opening extending along its entirelength.

The next step involves banding the tires in the cylinder together, usingmetal straps or metal wires, or some other incombustible material, toform a bundle of axially aligned tires.

The next step is placing one or more of these bundles in a receptacle.The receptacle could also be called a car, a tray, a cart, and isbasically a mobile container which holds the tires during the heatingprocess. The receptacle would typically include wheels and the wheelswould be configured to operate on a rail system.

The next step is to place one or more of the receptacles described aboveinto a pyrolysis chamber. The pyrolysis chamber has a door which may beopened and closed to withdraw a cooked receptacle and to admit a newreceptacle loaded with bundles of automobile tires. The receptacle doorseals to the body of the pyrolysis chamber with an air tight seal. Onceone or more receptacles are in the pyrolysis chamber, the next stepwould be sealing the pyrolysis chamber by securing the door to thechamber body. The next step is heating the pyrolysis chamber, which alsoinvolves heating the one or more receptacles that are inside thepyrolysis chamber and the one or more bundles of tires which are insideeach receptacle.

As the bundles are heated, gaseous emissions or vapors are produced andthese exit the pyrolysis chamber by a ventilation system. In the processof ventilating the pyrolysis chamber, the existing oxygen in thepyrolysis chamber is either used up or flushed out of the chamber, sothat the pyrolysis chamber becomes a low oxygen environment. In the lowoxygen environment of the pyrolysis chamber, the bundles of tires mayreach a temperature at which they would combust, but since no oxygen ispresent, they cannot combust. Instead, the bundles of tires willcontinue to off-gas until all that is left in the tires is carbon ashand the steel that was in the tires. A particularly desirable byproductof the process is a carbon ash which has about two percent by weight ofoil in the ash. This carbon ash with the small amount of oil isdesirable as a feedstock for other industries such as the steelindustry.

The next step is ventilating the gaseous vapor from the pyrolysischamber into a condensation system through the use of a ventilationsystem. The condensation system includes a condenser, in which areplaced a number of condenser plates. The condensation plates can begenerally horizontal in placement, and each condensation plate partiallyobstructs the escape route of gaseous emissions from the pyrolysischamber. The condenser plates are water cooled, and each condenser platepartially blocks the escape route of the gaseous emissions from thepyrolysis chamber.

In one configuration, the condensation plates are placed on an array oftubes through which water flow.

In one embodiment of the method of the invention, the condensationplates are set at an angle. Being set at an angle, as hydrocarbonscondense from the gaseous vapors, oil condenses on the condenser platesand flows downhill on the condensation plates. A route for condensed oilis provided, with condensed oil flowing down the condenser plates andinto a condensation tube.

The gaseous vapors or emissions from the pyrolysis chamber flow past thecondenser plates, and eventually exit the condenser. The condenseraccomplishes the step of condensing oil from the vapor in thecondensation system. The condenser also accomplishes the step ofcollecting oil, as the oil exits the condenser through the condensertube.

The next step in the process is capturing, compressing and storing thevapor which exits the condenser itself. This gas has much of itshydrocarbon content removed, but still retains enough hydrocarbons thatit is combustible. This vapor exits the condenser and is collected,compressed and stored as natural gas.

Another step in the process can be cooling the pyrolysis chamber afterthe heating step. Preferably, the bundle of tires is cooled to belowabout 150° Fahrenheit. This is performed so that when the door is openedand oxygen is reintroduced into the chamber, the bundle of tires doesnot reignite any residual oil contained in the tires.

The next step is removing the charred remnants of the bundle from thereceptacle. From the charred remnants in the receptacle steel can beremoved for recycling as scrap metal, and the ash residue of the tirescan be collected and sold as a feedstock for various industries. Thesteel is easily recovered from the mass of ash by the use of magnetism,or by use of coarse filters; these techniques are well known in theindustry.

Before starting the pyrolysis process, one embodiment of the inventioninvolves compressing the bundle and tying the bundle together in itscompressed state through the use of at least one metal fastener, whichwould typically be a wire or metal strap or banding.

The heating step of the method is preferably carried out so that thebundle of tires reaches a temperature of 500-1300° Fahrenheit. (260-704°Centigrade.).

The invention also pertains to an energy recovering device or system,with the purpose of recovering oil and energy from vehicle tires. In theprocess of doing this, oil and natural gas are recovered, and the tiresare reduced to ash and steel. The device includes one or morereceptacles for holding vehicle tires. These receptacles are configuredfor insertion into a pyrolysis chamber. The receptacles can take anumber of forms, with one being an open-topped cart which is a sectionof a cylinder, in which bundles of tires are placed. Typically, thereceptacle would include wheels and tracks on which the wheels run. Thereceptacles are placed in a pyrolysis chamber. The pyrolysis chamber issized depending on how many receptacles it is made to enclose. In oneembodiment, the pyrolysis chamber encloses one receptacle and need notbe much larger than the outer dimensions of the receptacle. Thepyrolysis chamber includes a door which opens to admit or withdraw areceptacle, and which closes to form an airtight seal so that no airenters the pyrolysis chamber during the heating phase. The system alsoincludes a heat source for heating the pyrolysis chamber and itscontents.

The device or system includes a ventilation system, which comprises acondenser with one or more water cool condensation plates and acondenser tube and a gas recovery system.

The condenser typically contains a plurality of condenser plates whichare in contact with water cooled tubes. The water cooled tubes may beround in cross section and connected at one end to a first header and atanother end to a second header. Water flows through the tubes from oneheader to the other and the fluid in the tubes absorbs heat and carriesit away. A sheet or plate is in contact with the water cooled tubes, andis preferably welded into contact with the tubes. The tubes can be roundtubes with water flowing through them, or the whole condenser plate canform a single tube with a hollow center through which water can flow.The condenser plates are placed generally horizontally in the condenserto promote condensation running down the plates and collecting the oilat the bottom of the condenser by gravity. For this reason, thecondenser plates are preferably set at an angle from the horizontal, andeach condenser plate partially blocks the escape route of gaseousemissions from the pyrolysis chamber. By partially blocking the escaperoute of gasses, the gasses can be forced to follow a circuitous paththrough the condenser, and thus increase the condenser plate surfacearea that the gasses come in contact with. The gasses would typically beforced to the extreme left, then the extreme right, then the extremeleft of the condenser, and would pass over an increased surface area ofcondenser plates by this means of routing.

Attached to the bottom of the water cool tubes are a plurality ofprotrusions, which extend downward from the condenser plates and/or thepipes or tubes. The condenser plates provide a surface for condensed oilto drip off of one condenser plate onto the condenser plate below. Onthe top surface of the condenser plate the oil drains to the downhillside of the condenser plate and is routed to a condenser tube by whichthe oil is collected and exits the condenser.

The gas stream which exits the condenser still contains hydrocarbons,and this gas is captured and compressed and may be utilized as an energysource. One use of this gas is to provide heat to the pyrolysis chamberfor the processing of more bundles of tire.

The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the public, andespecially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art whoare not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determinequickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of thetechnical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neitherintended to define the invention of the application, which is measuredby the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of theinvention in any way.

Still other features and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention,simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carryingout my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable ofmodification in various obvious respects all without departing from theinvention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferredembodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not asrestrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the receptacle being loaded into acylindrical pyrolysis chamber.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle loaded into a rectangularpyrolysis chamber.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of receptacles assembled for sequentialprocessing through a pyrolysis chamber.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a sequence of receptacles beingprocessed through a pyrolysis chamber.

FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view of the condenser of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a condenser plate of the inventionformed by a plate in contact with water filled tubes.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a condenser plate of the inventionshowing a condenser plate which serves as a channel for cooling water.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a large scale facility.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof havebeen shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the claims.

In the following description and in the figures, like elements areidentified with like reference numerals. The use of “or” indicates anon-exclusive alternative without limitation unless otherwise noted. Theuse of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unlessotherwise noted.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a second embodiment of the present invention isshown, being a system, method and/or process 10 (hereinafter “method”)starting with a supply of used automobile tires as a fuel source. Theseautomobile tires 12 are aligned together so that their center (wheel hubhole) passageways align, thereby forming a generally cylindrical shapedstructure (bundle) 14 comprised of tires. This cylindrical structure 14is held together, preferably through use of a plurality of wires ormetal straps. Optionally, the cylinders of tires could be firstcompressed axially before the wires are applied. By compressing the tirecylinders, heat will be distributed better. It has been found that wholetires are preferred over shredded tires because less heat transfer isobtained if the tires are first shredded. However, baled, chopped and/orshredded tires (or any other source of high durometer/vulcanized rubber)may be used, with modifications made to the system suitable for eachform of rubber.

The method provides a sealed pyrolysis chamber 18 for holding at leastone, and preferably a plurality, of these cylindrical tirebundles/structures 14 therein. The pyrolysis chamber 18 has a door 44configured for opening and thereby permitting cylindrical structures 14to be inserted into the pyrolysis chamber 18. Once the desired quantityof cylindrical structures 14 has been inserted into the chamber 18, thedoor is closed and the pyrolysis chamber 18 is sealed. Preferably thechamber 18 is not a pressure vessel or vacuum chamber. It is preferredthat this door have a water-cooled seal therein, to facilitate rapidcycling of the contents, and safe opening of the door. Heat ispreferably applied to the outside of the pyrolysis chamber.

Heating byproducts are allowed to exit the chamber 18 by passive airflowthrough use of a ventilation system 20. However no fresh airflow ispermitted to enter the chamber 18. In such an arrangement, as thechamber is heated, oxygen is quickly pushed out of the chamber 18 andinto the ventilation system 20. Because the tires are heated in theabsence of a source of oxygen (no new airflow (oxygen) is introducedinto the chamber), the tires do not melt but instead are charred,releasing a vapor product.

In one preferred embodiment, the pyrolysis chamber further comprises areceptacle 16 into which the cylindrical structures are stacked. Thepreferred receptacle comprises a removable structure, such as a wheeledbasin or tray, which can be wheeled into and out of the pyrolysischamber.

There are a number of different ways to load/unload the chamber. In afirst embodiment the wheeled basin 16 rides on one or more rails 46 intoand out of the chamber 18, the basin 16 wheeled into the chamber andheated, and then wheeled out of the chamber 18 after cooling or to allowcooling outside the chamber 18. In a second embodiment, the presentinvention comprises a rotating turntable of wheeled basins on railsallowing a basin to be wheeled in, heated, wheeled out and rotated tothe next position to allow cooling while the next basin in sequence isinserted into the chamber. Other types of continuous feed arrangementscould be likewise utilized. Further, providing a separate chamber forthe cool down step would be another option, so that the pyrolysischamber would not have to cool down.

The wheeled basin 16 is configured for supporting one or more of thecylindrical tires structures. Preferably a plurality of the cylindricalstructures could be stacked within the wheeled basin 16.

In use, the receptacle would be wheeled into the pyrolysis chamber andthe door 44 to the pyrolysis chamber would be closed. The chamber 18would then be heated by a heat source 48, which is located outside thepyrolysis chamber, until the external temperature reaches ˜800-1300° F.(427-704° C.), preferably 900° F. (482° C.), resulting in an internaltemperature of 500-1300° F. (260-704° C.). The preferred source of heatis via one or more natural gas burners. Natural gas burners are thepreferred heat source because of the wide range of BTU values andconsistent heat output. Natural gas from processing tires can be usedfor this purpose.

When the desired temperature is reached, the heat source 48 is turnedoff and the cylindrical structures 14 would be allowed to cool downuntil they are ˜150° F. (66° C.). At greater than 150° F., the tires mayre-ignite due to hot spots in the tires.

Through this method, the mass of the tires is substantially convertedinto vapors or gaseous byproducts which are vented to the ventilationsystem 20, which includes a condensation system 22. What is left behindin the chamber 18 a mass which is 90-92% pure carbon, plus whateversteel belts existed in the tires and ˜5% ash and ˜2% volatile organiccarbon.

In one example implementation of the present invention, 100 lbs of tiresbecomes up to 50 lbs of oil, 35 lbs of carbon, 10-15 lbs of steel and0-5 lbs of natural gas. There is no waste to be transferred to alandfill in such an implementation, as the steel is recycled and the ashis a useful product. The BTU value of the natural gas is 1280 wet and1303 dry, and the natural gas contains ethane, propane and butane.

The oil recovered is composed of light and heavy naphthas, diesel fueland other chemicals. This mix is roughly equivalent to #6 cutting oil,and can be used as a supplement to #6 cutting oil, crude diesel andkerosene.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, a condensation system 22 is utilizedto cause oil carried within the vapor stream vented through theventilation system from the chamber to condense into a liquid. Thecondensation system 22 includes a condenser 50 containing therein aplurality of spaced plates 30 and condensation tube. It is preferredthat these condensation plates 30 be generally vertically spaced apartand oriented with a pitch (preferably 5-15°) for allowing condensate tocascade off of the top surfaces of the plates onto the plate 30 orsurface below. The purpose of these plates is to direct gas flow acrossthe adjacent plates 30 or pipes 34 and their protrusions 35, as well asto channel oil downwards to lower plates 30 and/or the bottom of thecondenser.

It is preferred that the pipes 34 be cooled by liquid flowing throughthem, with the resulting cool surface assisting in the condensationstep. An evaporative cooler/chiller/radiator/cooling tower/etc. is usedto cool the water circulated through the pipes. A first bulkhead(header) 52 connects all of the first ends of the pipes 34 shown in FIG.6 together and a second bulkhead 56 connects all of the second ends ofthe pipes 34 together. It is preferred that the water be pumped, throughuse of a pump, from the lower end to the upper end of the pitchedplates.

It is further preferred that the plates have an alternating airpassageway defined through the lower and upper ends of the platesthereby forming a zigzag air passage through the condenser through whichthe vapors flow. By creating such a conduit or passage, the time ofairflow/vapor-flow across cooled plate surfaces is increased whilekeeping the size of the condenser smaller.

In a first embodiment of plates (FIG. 6) the plates 30 have a top sideand a bottom side, with a plurality of condensation pipes 34 attached toor located adjacent to the bottom side of the plates. The preferredplates comprise a sheet 32 (preferably of sheet metal) to which thecondensation pipes 34 are welded. The preferred pipes are dark ironpipes, stainless steel, copper pipes, etc. The preferred pitch or slopeof the plates is 5-15°. A plurality ofprotrusions/knobs/ridges/projections/drip points/dimples/etc.(“protrusions”) 35 preferably extend off the lowermost portion of thecondensation pipes. These protrusions increase the surface area of thepipes and provide a location for oil to condense upon. In the preferredembodiment, these protrusions are located one-inch apart.

In a second embodiment of plate (FIG. 7), the plates 36 comprise a topplate 38, a bottom plate, and a pair of side plates forming a generallyelongated rectangular tube 40 with an open first end and an open secondend thereby defining a passageway through the tube 40. The preferredpitch or slope of the plates is 5-15°. A sealed cutout 58 is providedthrough the tube 40, for allowing gas to flow upwards through the platesand for collected oil to pass downwards to the lower plates andcondenser bottom. The ends of the tubes 40 are sealed to a header 52 and56 connecting to the water cooling system which cools the plates bycirculation through the tubes 34 or tubes 40. A plurality of protrusions42 are added to the bottom surface of the plate to increase the surfacearea of the bottom of the plate and provide a location for condensationto take place, as the protrusions 35 of FIG. 6.

Oil that condenses on the pipes 34 or tubes 40 and their protrusions 35or 42 drips onto the plate (or surface) below them. The plates arepositioned at a pitch (preferably ˜5-15°) relative to horizontal so thatthe oil runs downwards to either drop off that plate onto the plate thatis oriented below it, or, in the case of the lowermost plate, onto thebottom of the condenser and out the condenser tube 54. Oil collects onthe bottom of the condenser, exits the condenser and is then carried (orpumped) by a suitable conduit to an oil storage vessel (not shown).

FIG. 8 shows a large scale implementation of the invention, with thecondensations systems 22 shown above a row of pyrolysis chambers 18.

The oil recaptured through the present invention's method is theequivalent in chemical content to Number 6 cutting oil and comprisesnaphthas, diesel fuel, gasoline and other hydrocarbons. This recapturedoil 26 could be used directly as fuel for ships or could be refined toproduce additional petroleum products. The ash resulting from theinvention is an excellent feed stock, for steel mills, for chargecarbon, or for other purposes. A carbon product containing about 2% ofoil is one product produced in the method that is especially desirable,as the residual oil aids in combustion of the carbon product. Any steelthat is recovered with the ash, would then be recycled as scrap steel.The method thus completely recycles the tires, has no emissions andresults in no waste by-products to be disposed of in a landfill.

After the oil laden vapor is passed across the condenser 50, also calleda condenser and the oil is condensed from the gaseous byproducts ofpyrolysis, a gas remains. This gas 28 is collected and compressed incanisters. This collected gas is clean enough to be added to a naturalgas system, and optionally can be used as a fuel source for heatingsubsequent pyrolysis chambers, and results in a net gain in energywithin the system, plus accomplishes the goal of reducing the volume ofwaste tires.

It is preferred that the ventilation system 20 output from the pyrolysischamber 18 connects to the bottom portion of the condenser 50 and that asecondary ventilation system 24 exist at the upper portion of thecondenser. Vapor passing through the condensation system would thusenter at the bottom portion, pass through the zigzag air passage(s)defined between a plurality of plates (with oil condensing out of thevapor) and ultimately be vented out the secondary ventilation system atthe upper portion of the condenser. The resulting gas can includenatural gas, ethane, propane, butane and other hydrocarbons.

The present invention could comprise a physical (brick and mortar)structure whereby used tires are transported to it, or could evencomprise one or more mobile units able to be transported to a locationhaving a supply of used tires that need to beprocessed/recycled/disposed of.

The energy recovery process of the invention incorporates a pyrolysischamber and condenser to extract hydro-carbons and moisture from tires,and condensing into fuel oil and natural gas. Preferably a highdurometer/vulcanized tire is placed inside an oxygen free or low oxygencontainer. This container is heated on the exterior, thus heating theinside core and releasing the hydro-carbons, moisture, light and heavynapthas, and other chemicals into a gaseous state. This gas istransferred to the condenser where fuel oil and a form of natural gasare separated into their respective containers. Typical returns of fueloil in relation to the specific weight of tire is dependent on thequality of material being fed into the process. 50% return of the weightof raw material being fed into the system is normal, i.e. 100 lbs. ofraw material yield 50 lbs. of fuel oil. Scrap tires are typically usedas raw materials due to the abundance of the tires.

Any high durometer/vulcanized rubber will serve as raw material in thisprocess. The fuel oil is composed primarily of light and of the fuel anda variety of chemicals which is discussed later. The use of the fuel oilis primarily as a supplement to #6 cutting oil, crude diesel, andkerosene in kiln operations. The fuel oils is an excellent feed stock tobe cracked and separated into its basic components. The natural gas thatis separated in the process is similar to commercial natural gas. TheBTU value is 1280 awe and 1303 dry. The properties of the natural gas islargely natural gas, ethane, propane, and butane. The natural gas is anexcellent source to compress and store for use in lieu of natural gas.

The following invention and description is known as the Energy recoveryprocess of the invention. The process will work on other forms of highdurometer/vulcanized material. The abundance of scrap tires facilitatestheir use in this process. The pyrolysis chamber is filled with whole,baled, or chopped/shredded tires. The pyrolysis chamber is sealed fromoutside oxygen. The process requires an oxygen free or low oxygenburning or dehydration of the tire material. Heat is applied topyrolysis chamber with the tire material inside. The outside temperatureof Pyrolysis chamber is typically driven to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.Although a wide range of temperatures exists in this process, theresults and return rates which are stated later is derived form 900degree Fahrenheit temperature setting. The inside or “core temperature”of EC 1 (enclosed container 1) will slowly follow the outside skintemperature. Because the tires are a fuel and have a specific BTU valuethemselves, the core temperature will normally peak at approximately 10degrees Fahrenheit above the outside skin temperature of the pyrolysischamber

When the core temperature of the pyrolysis chamber is raised, themoisture and chemicals in the tire compounds are released. The releasedmaterial is in a gaseous state. The gas at this point contains heavyhydro-carbons and a combination of various flammable gas components. Thegas resides in the pyrolysis chamber and is transported through a lineinto a closed container. The separation consists of fuel oil and naturalgas, the fuel oil is comprised of light and heavy naphthas, diesel fuel,gasoline, and a variety of chemicals which is state later. The fuel oilhas a specific weight of 7.56 lbs. per gallon. The fuel oil is verysimilar in properties to a sweet crude #6 cutting oil. The fuel oil hasa BTU value of 17,700 BTU per pound. The following is a specificchemical breakdown and relative percentages of the API fuel oil:

l-Propene, 2-Methyl 1.10% Butane, 2-Methyl 0.12% l,3-Pelltadiene 1.73%Cyclopropane, 1,2-Dimethy1-, Cis 1.45% 1,3-Cyclopentadiene 0.12%Cyclopentene 0.42% 2-Pentene, 2-Methyl 0.37% l-Hexene 0.43% Hexane 0.22%Cyclopentene, 3-Methyl 0.84% 2-Pentene, 3-Methyl-, (E) 0.39%Cyclopentane, Methyl 0.16% 1,3-Cyclopelltadielle, Methyl 1.00% Benzene4.00% 1,3,5-Hexatriene 0.13% Cyclohexene 0.33% Cyclopentane,l,2-Dimethyl-, Trans 0.74% 1.4-Hexadien, 4-Methyl- 1.30% Cyclopentene,4,4-Demethyl- 0.91% Cyclohexane, Methyl- 0.27% Trans-3,4,4-Trimethyl-2-Pentene 0.28% 1,3,5-Hexatriene, 3-Methyl- 0.71%1,3,5-Hexatriene, 3-Methyl- 0.23% Toluene - 11.95% Cyclohexene, 1-Methyl0.47% Pentane, 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl 0.44% Cyclohexane,1,3-Dimenthyl-trans- 0.19% 1-Heptene, 2-Methyl- 0.13% 1-Octene 0.33%2,4-Hexadiene, 2,5-Demethyl 0.21% Cyclohexanne, 1,2-Dimethyl-, Cis-0.71% 1,3-Hexadiene, 2,5-Dimenthyl- 0.59% Trans-3,7-Dimethylocyclohexene0.59% Cyclohexene, 4-Ethenyl- 0.40% Bicyclo[6.1.0]Non-1-Ene 0.20%2-Ethyl-3-Methycyclopentene 0.34% 1,3-Cyclopentandiene, Trimethyl- 0.31%Ethylbenzene 5.64% p-Xylene 6.35% Styrene 1.39% Benzene, 1,2-Dimethyl-1.61% 3,4-Octadiene, 7-Methyl- 0.15% 1-Nonene 0.12% 1,5-hexadiene,2,5-Dimethyl-3-Methylene- 0.31% Benzene, (l-Methylethyl)3- 1.11%Cyclohexene-1-Carboxaldehyde, 1-Methyl 0.41% Camphene 0.14% Benzene,2-Propenyl- 0.10% Benzene, Propyl- 1.14% Benzene, 1-Ethyl-2-Methyl-4.83% .alpha.-Methylstyrene 1.47% 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 2.31% Propane,2-(2-Isopropylidene-33-Methyl eye1opropy1)-, 0.31% Trans-2,6-0etadien-1-01, 3,7-Dimethyl-, (Z)- 0.59% Benzene, 1,2,3-Trirnethyl-0.30% Benzene, 1-Methyl-2-(1-Methylethyl)- 2.70% Limonene 6.96%Thiophene, 2-Hexyl 0.48% Benzene, 1-Ethyl-3,5-Dimethyl-2- 1.08%Hexen-l-OL, (E)- 0.26% Benzene, l-Ethyl-2,4-Dimethyl- 0.66% Benzene,l-Metllyl-4-(1-Methylethenyl)- 0.41% Benzene, 1,2-Diethyl- 0.24%Bicyclo[3.1.0]Hexane, 6-Isopropylidene-l-Methyl- 0.44% Benzene,(1,l-Dimethylpropyl) 0.53% Benzene, 1,2,4,5-Tetramethyl- 0.44% Benzene,2-Ethenyl-1,4-Dimethyl- 0.12% 1H-Indene, 2,3-Dihydro-4- 0.81%Methyl-Benzene, 1-Methyl-4-(2-Propenyl)- 2.62% Benzene, Pentyl 0.39%Naphthalene 1.32% 1H-Indene, 2,3-Dihydro-1,6-Dimethyl- 0.57% 1H-Indene,2,3-Dihydro-1,2-Dimethyl- 0.45% 1,2-Benziaothiazole 0.68% Dodecane 0.12%Naphthalene, 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-2-Methyl- 0.49% Napthalene1,2,3,4-Tetrahydor-6-Methyl- 0.38% 1H-Idene, 1,1-Demethyl- 0.34%1H-Cyclopropa[b]Maphthalene,1a,2,7,7a-Tetrahydro- 0.44% Benzene,1-Isothiocyanato-2-Methyl 0.77% Naphthalene, 2-Methyl 0.75% Naphthalene,1-Methyl 0.92% Cyclooctene, 2-Methylene-6-(1-Propenylidene)- 0.33%1H-Indene, 2,3-Dihydro-4,5,6-Trimethyl- 0.20% Benzene,1,4-Bis(1-Mehtylethenyl)- 1.61% Naphthalene, 2-Ethyl 0.24% Naphthalene,2,7-Dimethyl 0.40% Naphthalene, 1,3-Dimethyl 1.46% Quinoline,2,6-Dimethyl- 0.36% Tridecane 0.43% Naphthalene, 2,3,6-Trimethyl- 0.71%Naphthalene, 1,4,6-Trimethyl 0.31% Naphthalene, 1,4,5-Trimethyl 0.21%Naphthalene, 1,1-(2-Propenyl) 0.75% Phenol, 2,4,6-Tribromo- 2.58%Heptadecane 2.20% Phenanthrene, 2,4,5,7-Tetramethyl 0.33%

The recovered oil is transferred from condenser through a transfer lineinto a storage tank. Another product that is separated in the condenseris the natural gas composition. The natural gas burns relatively similarto commercial natural gas. A large content of the natural gas iscomposed of properties similar to commercial natural gas. BTU valuesvary slightly but are normally 1,280 BTU wet and 1,303 dry. The capturednatural gas in the raw state has a strong aromatic odor.

When the captured natural gas is collected and stored, it can be used inlieu of commercial grade natural gas. In the tire to oil operationapproximately 600 cubic feet of natural gas is consumed per hour in highburn, and approximately 300 cubic feet of natural gas is consumed perhour on low burn. Low burn is sufficient to maintain temperature oncethe system temperature set-point has been reached. The tire to oilprocess produces approximately 1,400 cubic feet per hour of capturednatural gas which is collected, compressed, and may be reused to fuelthe process, or sold to be used as an energy product. The followingdescription outlines the components of the captured natural gas:

N Hexane 2.146% Propane 13.955% i-Butane 2.767% n-Butane 1.497%i-pentane 0.271% n-pentane 1.081% carbon Dioxide 15.480% ethane 11.987%oxygen 1.844% nitrogen 7.921% Natural gas 41.051%

The captured natural gas is transferred from the condenser through linesto a storage tank.

The natural gas is transferred from the pyrolysis chamber through a lineinto a collection tank which serves as the collection and storage pointfor the natural gas. The residual mass left in the pyrolysis chamber iscarbon and steel. After the process is completely finished, the carboncontain 75% carbon and 25% ash. The steel is a high carbon steel whichis magnetic, and thus easily separable. All components of the processare salable in one form or another. The fuel oil is sold as sweetpetroleum crude, the carbon is sold as a coarse carbon, the natural gasis used in the process in lieu of commercial nature gas, and the steelis sold as scrap steel.

Still other features and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention,simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carryingout my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable ofmodification in various obvious respects all without departing from theinvention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferredembodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not asrestrictive in nature.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof havebeen shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the claims.

In this description and in the figures, like elements are identifiedwith like reference numerals. The use of “or” indicates a non-exclusivealternative without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of“including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwisenoted.

While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention isnot limited thereto, but may be variously embodied to practice withinthe scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, itwill be apparent that various changes may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of recovering oil from tires,comprising: providing a supply of automobile tires; axially aligning aquantity of said tires so that they form a cylinder made of a pluralityof tires; compressing said bundle and banding said bundle in itscompressed state through use of at least one metal strap, to form abundle of said axially aligned tires; placing one or more bundles in areceptacle; placing one or more receptacles in a pyrolysis chamber;sealing said pyrolysis chamber; heating said pyrolysis chamber,receptacle and bundle to a temperature of 500-1300° F. (260-704° C.),thereby charring said bundle and releasing a vapor; ventilating saidvapor from said pyrolysis chamber into a condensation system comprisinga plurality of condensation plates which define a circuitous exitpathway for gaseous vapors produced from said pyrolysis chamber andwhich also define an oil drainage pathway to a condensation tube,through use of a ventilation system; condensing oil from said vapor insaid condensation system; collecting said oil; compressing and storingsaid remaining vapor, with the system resulting in up to 50% oilrecovery by weight and a net positive energy production of natural gascooling the pyrolysis chamber, receptacle and bundle after heating toabout 150° F.; removing the charred remnants of the bundle from thereceptacle; and separating the charred remnants of the bundle intocarbon and metal.
 2. The method of claim 1 which further includesproviding said condensation chamber with water cooled condensationplates set at an angle from horizontal, defining a circuitous exitpathway for gaseous vapors produced from said pyrolysis chamber andwhich also define an oil drainage pathway to a condensation tube.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 which further includes providing said condensationchamber with water cooled condensation plates with a plurality ofcondensation points to facilitate condensation and dripping of oil fromsaid gaseous vapors from said pyrolysis chamber.
 4. The method of claim3 which further includes providing a collection and compression systemfor gasses which exit the condenser, and which still containhydrocarbons.